Services of Remembrance

Lest We Forget

Again, we remember the fallen heroes of the great conflicts who lie in a foreign field many miles from their land of origin. Never out of mind, however, is the sacrifice made for us all.

We may recall from our reading of history that, after more than four years of continuous battles, WW I suddenly ended at 11:00 am, 11th November, 1918. The Canadian troops had reached Mons, in Belgium, the scene of some of the heaviest fighting early in the war. 628,000 Canadians had served in the great conflict and 66,500 had died.

Among those dead were 23 Cannuks of about 300 Commonwealth troops who were executed for “cowardice in the face of the enemy”. In these more enlightened times we know that ‘shellshocked’ troops are suffering from one of the Stress Disorders now fully recognized as illnesses. It is in process now for those forgotten casualties of the war that they may be fully pardoned. Accordingly, our government has seen fit to have the names of those victims of that war of unrelenting fury and horror added to the Book of Remembrance, the honour roll of Canada’s war dead in the nation’s capital.

The war we are presently fighting against the terrorist continues in Afghanistan (Canada is at war says retired General Lewis MacKenzie) and we can expect continued casualties on that front. NATO forces are the actual military group with whom we are allied. It is in Afghanistan that Al Qaeda terrorist training grounds are situated under Taliban protection. We have renewed our commitment to this effort against international terror. The terrorisis are a particularly fanatical group whose propaganda tells of a determined effort for world domination over the Christian countries. This is entirely false philosophy, and has no basis in the religion of Islam. The Prophet, Mohammed’s teachings tell us the opposite. It is noteworthy that Saadam Hussein has this week called upon all Sunnis, Shias & Kurds to forgive all their enemies and settle down in peace.

A little quote from a Soldier:

If we thought we’d found the answer
That war is not the way.
Why is this senseless killing
Still going on today.

M4469

Bill Charlton,
Chaplain,
Branch 43
Royal Canadian Legion